Chapter 23: Father’s Words

Sharifa and Nicola had been summoned to the Emir’s study.

“I hear most of what you have been up to in Oxford. The name Sharifa means ‘eminent’, ‘honourable’, and ‘virtuous’, as you know. I suppose a First Class Honours decree counts as ‘eminent’, and one out of three is better than nothing,” the Emir said with a smile, “What do you propose to do now? Marry the man I have chosen for you, and settle down in his harem to have babies?”

Seeing the consternation on his daughter’s face, he added, “I thought not. Pity; he will be very disappointed.”

“I don’t know for sure yet, father, but I think I would like to do research at a university somewhere.”

“Any thoughts as to where?” he asked.

“Oxford were encouraging, and Stanford have given me an offer,” she said with a hint of apprehension in her voice.

“What about Kobek?” her father asked.

Sharifa could not help herself; a peal of girlish laughter rang out across the room. “The University of Kobek have no women cleaners, let alone undergraduates, and as for faculty posts...” Then she saw the look on his face. “You mean it, don’t you? You’ll order them to change their set up to co-ed?” she asked.

“Not quite. A separate women’s university is the best we could achieve at the moment, but I could force the main university to be the examining body and to award degrees fairly. How do you fancy being Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Mathematics?”

It was a trick question, but she saw it just in time.

“Yes, I’d love it,” she enthused, “And I could use some of my spare time to read for a degree in Sanskrit and another in biochemistry I suppose.”

The Emir breathed a sigh of relief. She had not taken the bait; her feet were still firmly on the ground and she was not about to take on a rôle for which she was ludicrously unprepared. However, he filed away at the back of his mind that in perhaps ten years’ time there had better be a women’s university for her to join.

Turning to Nicola he asked, “And you, Nicola Price, Bachelor of Science of the First Class? Where do you propose to do your research?”

“Oh, I’m not applying to do research; I’m not good enough a mathematician.”

“You got a First?”

“I studied along side Sharifa for three years. I know I’m not a real mathematician, because she is.”

He nodded sagely, “What will you do, then?”

Nicola shrugged her shoulders, but made no reply.

“Well you could stay here and I could find you a rich husband,” the Emir offered, and then laughed aloud at he horrified expression.

As he laughed the two girls joined in, realising he was joking. ‘Or was he?’ thought Nicola afterwards.

Back in the harem Nicola and her friend discussed their meeting with the Emir, “For a moment I thought your father was serious about a rich husband, Sharifa.”

Sharifa laughed. “Would that be such a bad thing? Wanting for nothing?”

“You don’t think he was serious, do you?”

“Well, he had a point. What do you want to do?”

Nicola was surprised at her friend. “I don’t know yet. I just need some time. I never really thought about marriage, not yet, anyway. I don’t think I could stick being married to any man I didn’t like, even if he was the wealthiest man in the world. Besides...” Nicola’s voice trailed off.

“Besides, what?” prompted Sharifa.

“It’s so lovely here. The girls are friendly and kind. There’s a wonderful feeling of togetherness here. I doubt if I could find that anywhere else, and...”

“And?” Sharifa once again prompted.

“I don’t want to lose you. You’re my best friend,” finished Nicola battling not to cry.

“Come here,” Said Sharifa as she hugged her friend, “You won’t lose me. No matter where we end up we will remain in contact, I promise.”